Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an influential French philosopher was born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, Switzerland. Rousseau was a writer and political theorist who, in many ways, changed the world around him. His theories played a part in ending the Age of Reason, evolving taste in the arts, reforming methods of parenting and even increasing people's awareness of the beauty of nature.[1]
As a child, Rousseau lived in Geneva with his father, as his mother had died in labor. Later his father fled from his home to avoid imprisonment for brandishing a sword. This left Rousseau alone. He found a home with his mother's extended family and lived there for six years. There he was patronized until, he too, left his home to live in France as a Roman Catholic convert. When Rousseau arrived in France, a baroness took him in and gave him a home, and education, and a job.
At the age of 30 Rousseau traveled to Paris where he then met Denis Diderot. The two became successful philosophes. This was the start of Rousseau's development as an extremely influential philosopher.
Rousseau spent the last years of his life in France. He continued to write, though most of his work was autobiographical. The circumstances of his death are still disputed, but most believe it to be a delayed result of a collision with a great dane in 1776. This collision resulted in Rousseau suffering from, what is described to be, epileptic seizures from then on. Two years later, Rousseau died cerebral hemorrhaging in Ermenonville, France. He lived to the age of 66[2] .
School of Thought
Rousseau was a philosopher in the time of the Enlightenment.
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that began in Europe. The Enlightenment was based around the importance of rationalism and progress. Though Rousseau was a philosopher during this time, he was not a proponent of the Enlightenment.
Rousseau philosophized on the nature of society and the government. He believed that in their primitive state, man is good by nature. What corrupts man, according to Rousseau is society and civilization. He believed that civilization led to "amour propre," an artificial form of self love that led to moral degeneracy, centered on narcissism and jealousy. Rousseau believed that "amour propre" rose out of comparing oneself to their neighbor and basing one's worth on this comparison. This led people to lose sight of their own thought and feelings, merely adopting the ones of those around them. Rousseau also believed that everything that was irrational should be wiped away.[3]
Works
“A Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts” 1750
This work is a response to a newspaper ad for an essay contest. The question was whether recent advances in arts ans sciences contributed to the purification of morals. Rousseau realized that these advances in society did not improve man, but rather, corrupted man. This work became what Rousseau is most known for-the idea that man was once good and is only corrupted by society.
"Le Devin du village" 1752
Le Devin du village is an opera. It was first performed at Fontainebleau in 1752. The story is of two lovers, Colin and Colette, who suspect each other of cheating. In the end they makeup and are happily married.[4]
“A Discourse Upon the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind” 1755
The goal of this work was to describe all the types of inequality among men and assess which are natural and which are unnatural. Rousseau states that man in his state of nature is only driven by pity and self-preservation. Man exists without the concept of reason or morals. An idea of perfectibility drives this being to adapt to its environment. Rousseau explains that the more contact a person has with other people, the more the mind evolves. This also leads to "amour propre" which leads to corruption. Rousseau assesses that differences in physical strength are the only natural inequalities and the rest must be contested. This Discourse was highly influential and one of the most revolutionary documents of its time.
“Emile: or, On Education” 1762
In this work, Rousseau addresses his ideas of the nature of man and thoughts on education. This work follows the life of a man named Emile. In the books, Emile receives the education necessary for him to become Rousseau's idealized "natural man." This book showcased a new method of education that differed greatly from the accepted norm. Rousseau's philosophy of education shown in Emile was radical. His approach on religion was also radical and created major controversy. While some ideas in Emile caused Rousseau to be attacked, others brought about great reform. The education system was reformed to employ ideas in his work, mothers were enlightened to the benefits of breastfeeding, and parents were persuaded to allow their children to play outside.
"The Social Contract" 1762
The Social Contract is Rousseau's most importants political and philosophical work. In this work Rousseau states that the only legitimate authority is one consented to by all the people. These people have agreed to be governed, or entered a social contract, in exchange for their safety. Rousseau goes on to describe a general will, which he stated as the need to preserve the common good. In its time, Rousseau's idea that the consent of the people is what determines the legitimacy of government was radical. Rousseau aimed for a democratic society. This work is one of the most important works concerning the natural rights of man in history.
“Confessions” 1770
This work is exactly what the title suggests. The beginning of this autobiography starts out with Rousseau describing his family and moves into his earliest memories and fondest childhood memories. Rousseau describes embarrassing events throughout his adolescence until he reaches his adult life. In this part, Rousseau gets more personal in his writing. Rousseau's Confessions brought about the genre of autobiography and influenced later works including those of Sigmund Freud.[5]
Legacy
Influences:
Spinoza- by his ideas on equality
Montesquieu- by his the idea of "general will"
Hobbes- "Leviathan" his idea of society being linked to an individual person
Locke- similar ideas of government, both believed in a system of checks and balances.
Influenced:
Kant- incorporated ideas found in "A Discourse Upon the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind” into his own philosophy A Discourse Upon the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind”
The French Revolution- influenced by radical ideas of government for the consenting people
The Counter-Enlightenment -opposed Enlightenment believing it to be the cause of the regression of man, evident in his First Discourse
Romanticism- considered the father of romanticism Romanticised the idea of nature. "The Confessions"
American Government- idea of general will influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
Marx- Rousseau was the first to attack the idea of private property so he is considered the first to promote socialism and communism
Further Reading
Western Civilization, Since 1300, Seventh Edition by Jackson J. Spielvogel. Pages 518-19, 520, 523
The Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Biography
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an influential French philosopher was born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, Switzerland. Rousseau was a writer and political theorist who, in many ways, changed the world around him. His theories played a part in ending the Age of Reason, evolving taste in the arts, reforming methods of parenting and even increasing people's awareness of the beauty of nature.[1]As a child, Rousseau lived in Geneva with his father, as his mother had died in labor. Later his father fled from his home to avoid imprisonment for brandishing a sword. This left Rousseau alone. He found a home with his mother's extended family and lived there for six years. There he was patronized until, he too, left his home to live in France as a Roman Catholic convert. When Rousseau arrived in France, a baroness took him in and gave him a home, and education, and a job.
At the age of 30 Rousseau traveled to Paris where he then met Denis Diderot. The two became successful philosophes. This was the start of Rousseau's development as an extremely influential philosopher.
Rousseau spent the last years of his life in France. He continued to write, though most of his work was autobiographical. The circumstances of his death are still disputed, but most believe it to be a delayed result of a collision with a great dane in 1776. This collision resulted in Rousseau suffering from, what is described to be, epileptic seizures from then on. Two years later, Rousseau died cerebral hemorrhaging in Ermenonville, France. He lived to the age of 66[2] .
School of Thought
Rousseau was a philosopher in the time of the Enlightenment.The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that began in Europe. The Enlightenment was based around the importance of rationalism and progress. Though Rousseau was a philosopher during this time, he was not a proponent of the Enlightenment.
Rousseau philosophized on the nature of society and the government. He believed that in their primitive state, man is good by nature. What corrupts man, according to Rousseau is society and civilization. He believed that civilization led to "amour propre," an artificial form of self love that led to moral degeneracy, centered on narcissism and jealousy. Rousseau believed that "amour propre" rose out of comparing oneself to their neighbor and basing one's worth on this comparison. This led people to lose sight of their own thought and feelings, merely adopting the ones of those around them. Rousseau also believed that everything that was irrational should be wiped away.[3]
Works
“A Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts” 1750This work is a response to a newspaper ad for an essay contest. The question was whether recent advances in arts ans sciences contributed to the purification of morals. Rousseau realized that these advances in society did not improve man, but rather, corrupted man. This work became what Rousseau is most known for-the idea that man was once good and is only corrupted by society.
"Le Devin du village" 1752
Le Devin du village is an opera. It was first performed at Fontainebleau in 1752. The story is of two lovers, Colin and Colette, who suspect each other of cheating. In the end they makeup and are happily married.[4]
“A Discourse Upon the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind” 1755
The goal of this work was to describe all the types of inequality among men and assess which are natural and which are unnatural. Rousseau states that man in his state of nature is only driven by pity and self-preservation. Man exists without the concept of reason or morals. An idea of perfectibility drives this being to adapt to its environment. Rousseau explains that the more contact a person has with other people, the more the mind evolves. This also leads to "amour propre" which leads to corruption. Rousseau assesses that differences in physical strength are the only natural inequalities and the rest must be contested. This Discourse was highly influential and one of the most revolutionary documents of its time.
“Emile: or, On Education” 1762
In this work, Rousseau addresses his ideas of the nature of man and thoughts on education. This work follows the life of a man named Emile. In the books, Emile receives the education necessary for him to become Rousseau's idealized "natural man." This book showcased a new method of education that differed greatly from the accepted norm. Rousseau's philosophy of education shown in Emile was radical. His approach on religion was also radical and created major controversy. While some ideas in Emile caused Rousseau to be attacked, others brought about great reform. The education system was reformed to employ ideas in his work, mothers were enlightened to the benefits of breastfeeding, and parents were persuaded to allow their children to play outside.
"The Social Contract" 1762
The Social Contract is Rousseau's most importants political and philosophical work. In this work Rousseau states that the only legitimate authority is one consented to by all the people. These people have agreed to be governed, or entered a social contract, in exchange for their safety. Rousseau goes on to describe a general will, which he stated as the need to preserve the common good. In its time, Rousseau's idea that the consent of the people is what determines the legitimacy of government was radical. Rousseau aimed for a democratic society. This work is one of the most important works concerning the natural rights of man in history.
“Confessions” 1770
This work is exactly what the title suggests. The beginning of this autobiography starts out with Rousseau describing his family and moves into his earliest memories and fondest childhood memories. Rousseau describes embarrassing events throughout his adolescence until he reaches his adult life. In this part, Rousseau gets more personal in his writing. Rousseau's Confessions brought about the genre of autobiography and influenced later works including those of Sigmund Freud.[5]
Legacy
Influences:
Influenced:
Further Reading
Western Civilization, Since 1300, Seventh Edition by Jackson J. Spielvogel. Pages 518-19, 520, 523The Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau